Araluen vs Gillen

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Araluen, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Araluen: a median of $572,000, against $460,000 in Gillen, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Gillen tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

Araluen is a smaller, more affluent suburb with a median household income of $127,452 compared to Gillen's $113,152, and sits in socio-economic decile 9 versus Gillen's decile 6. Gillen has notably better walkability (61 versus 40) and a higher liveability score (60 versus 54), suggesting it offers more convenient day-to-day amenities. Weekly rent is slightly higher in Araluen at $440 versus $400. Both suburbs are equally safe from natural disasters and are virtually equidistant from the CBD, making the choice largely dependent on whether you prioritise income levels and prestige or neighbourhood walkability and convenience.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Gillen

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

Weighs schools, house stock, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Gillen

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($460,000 vs $572,500)
  • has cheaper units ($307,500 vs $345,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Gillen

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $440/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Gillen

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (65/100 vs 42/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (952 min vs 959 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Gillen

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (65/100 vs 42/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, and walkability.

Investors

Gillen

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (4.4% vs -1.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (7.7% vs 5.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Araluen and Gillen drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Araluen Gillen
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Araluen Gillen
Walkability 42 / 65
Araluen — Walkability: 42/100 Gillen — Walkability: 65/100

Demographics

Gillen has more residents (4,466 vs 2,673); Araluen has higher household incomes ($127,452 vs $113,152).

Araluen Gillen
Population 2,673 4,466
+67% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.2% +4.4%
Median age 34 33
Median household income $127,452/yr
+11% vs other
 $113,152/yr
Median weekly rent $440/wk
+9% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Araluen Gillen
0-4 8.6% / 6.9%
Araluen — 0-4: 8.6% Gillen — 0-4: 6.9%
5-14 15.2% / 15.9%
Araluen — 5-14: 15.2% Gillen — 5-14: 15.9%
15-19 6.7% / 6.4%
Araluen — 15-19: 6.7% Gillen — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 4.4% / 5.5%
Araluen — 20-24: 4.4% Gillen — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 16.6% / 19.2%
Araluen — 25-34: 16.6% Gillen — 25-34: 19.2%
35-44 16.3% / 16.1%
Araluen — 35-44: 16.3% Gillen — 35-44: 16.1%
45-54 13.8% / 12.4%
Araluen — 45-54: 13.8% Gillen — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 10.2% / 9.9%
Araluen — 55-64: 10.2% Gillen — 55-64: 9.9%
65-74 5.8% / 5.0%
Araluen — 65-74: 5.8% Gillen — 65-74: 5.0%
75-84 2.0% / 2.1%
Araluen — 75-84: 2.0% Gillen — 75-84: 2.1%
85+ 0.3% / 0.6%
Araluen — 85+: 0.3% Gillen — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Araluen 46.7% couple families
Araluen — Couple Families: 46.7% Araluen — Lone Person: 28.3% Araluen — One Parent Families: 16.3% Araluen — Group Household: 8.1% Araluen — Other Families: 0.6%
Gillen 40.2% couple families
Gillen — Couple Families: 40.2% Gillen — Lone Person: 29.5% Gillen — One Parent Families: 19.6% Gillen — Group Household: 8.3% Gillen — Other Families: 2.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Araluen 41.7% renting
Araluen — Owned Outright: 18.2% Araluen — Mortgage: 40.1% Araluen — Renting: 41.7%
Gillen 42.1% renting
Gillen — Owned Outright: 14.8% Gillen — Mortgage: 43.2% Gillen — Renting: 42.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Araluen Gillen
Certificate III & IV 12.7% / 13.9%
Araluen — Certificate III & IV: 12.7% Gillen — Certificate III & IV: 13.9%
Bachelor Degree 14.1% / 12.2%
Araluen — Bachelor Degree: 14.1% Gillen — Bachelor Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 6.9%
Araluen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Gillen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Postgraduate Degree 5.9% / 4.9%
Araluen — Postgraduate Degree: 5.9% Gillen — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 2.1%
Araluen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Gillen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.1%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Araluen Gillen
India 5.4% / 5.8%
Araluen — India: 5.4% Gillen — India: 5.8%
New Zealand 5.1% / 3.8%
Araluen — New Zealand: 5.1% Gillen — New Zealand: 3.8%
Philippines 2.2% / 2.7%
Araluen — Philippines: 2.2% Gillen — Philippines: 2.7%
England 2.3% / 2.2%
Araluen — England: 2.3% Gillen — England: 2.2%
Zimbabwe 1.8% / 0.6%
Araluen — Zimbabwe: 1.8% Gillen — Zimbabwe: 0.6%
Nepal 0.5% / 1.2%
Araluen — Nepal: 0.5% Gillen — Nepal: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Araluen 73.2% houses
Araluen — Houses: 73.2% Araluen — Townhouses: 23.6% Araluen — Flats / Apartments: 3.2%
Gillen 69.6% houses
Gillen — Houses: 69.6% Gillen — Townhouses: 27.2% Gillen — Flats / Apartments: 3.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Araluen Gillen
Median house price $572,500 $460,000
Median unit price $345,000 $307,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 68 days
from 28 sales
 85 days
from 60 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Araluen Gillen
3 bed $461K / $442K
Araluen — 3 bed: $461K (37 sales) Gillen — 3 bed: $442K (74 sales)

37 vs 74 sales

4 bed $636K / $500K
Araluen — 4 bed: $636K (40 sales) Gillen — 4 bed: $500K (30 sales)

40 vs 30 sales

5 bed $745K / $535K
Araluen — 5 bed: $745K (5 sales) Gillen — 5 bed: $535K (7 sales)

5 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Araluen Gillen
New dwellings approved 30
across Alice Springs
same for both
Approvals change year on year +25%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Araluen Gillen
Houses 5.7%
$680/wk on $625K
 7.7%
$750/wk on $509K
Units — 6.8%
$445/wk on $342K

Ranking within NT

Araluen Gillen
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 87% of NT Higher than 74% of NT
Schools — Higher than 100% of NT
Walkability Higher than 80% of NT Higher than 91% of NT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 64% of NT Higher than 73% of NT
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of NT Higher than 71% of NT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 75% of NT Higher than 98% of NT
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 50% of NT

Liveability

Gillen is more walkable (65 vs 42); Gillen scores higher overall (65 vs 54).

Araluen Gillen
Grade B
same for both
Score 54/100 65/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Araluen Gillen
Bushfire Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Crime Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Araluen Gillen
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Araluen

  • Yipirinya School Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in Gillen

  • Bradshaw Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Centralian Middle School Government · Secondary
  • Gillen Primary School Government · Primary
  • St Joseph's Catholic Flexible School Catholic · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Araluen Gillen
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 1 5
Childcare 2 3
GPs 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0

Mobility

Araluen Gillen
Walkability score 42/100 65/100
Distance to Darwin 1501.3 km 1500.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 959 min 952 min
Public transport score 31/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 8.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 8.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 0870
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 40
postcode 0870
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Araluen Gillen
Car (driver) 78.8% / 77.7%
Araluen — Car (driver): 78.8% Gillen — Car (driver): 77.7%
Car (passenger) 9.9% / 9.8%
Araluen — Car (passenger): 9.9% Gillen — Car (passenger): 9.8%
Bicycle 4.1% / 3.6%
Araluen — Bicycle: 4.1% Gillen — Bicycle: 3.6%
Walked Only 1.7% / 4.7%
Araluen — Walked Only: 1.7% Gillen — Walked Only: 4.7%
Worked from Home 3.0% / 2.8%
Araluen — Worked from Home: 3.0% Gillen — Worked from Home: 2.8%
Bus 2.5% / 1.3%
Araluen — Bus: 2.5% Gillen — Bus: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.8%).

Setting

Araluen Gillen
Elevation 606 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 576 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Araluen Gillen
Connectivity score 67/100 64/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 39%
1,065 premises
 35%
1,906 premises

Climate

Araluen Gillen
Annual rainfall 285 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 36.6°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 4.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Araluen Gillen
Average residential rate $2,106/yr
same for both
Council Alice Springs
same for both

Federal electorate

Araluen Gillen
Division Lingiari
same for both
Member Marion Scrymgour
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Araluen Gillen
Grant amount $50,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Araluen

Family Townhouses Young Families

Gillen

Affordable Easy Commute Family Parks Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Araluen

Araluen vs Braitling Araluen vs Larapinta Araluen vs Ciccone Araluen vs Flynn

Other comparisons with Gillen

Gillen vs The Gap Gillen vs Ciccone Gillen vs Alice Springs Gillen vs Flynn
Full data on Araluen Full data on Gillen
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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